Patents Examined by Amy J. Nelson
  • Enhancer-increased gene expression in plants
    Patent number: 6323393
    Abstract: The invention provides enhancers for one or more gene promoters, which enhancers are nucleotide sequences rich in A and T bases, the total amount of A and T bases comprising more than 50% of the nucleotide sequence. Particular sequences are identified from the pea plastocyanin promoter which are active as enhancers, as is a solely A/T nucleotide sequence, and methods of carrying out the invention are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Technologies (Cambridge) Ltd.
    Inventors: John Clinton Gray, Jagdeep Singh Sandhu, Carl Innes Webster
  • Antifungal polypeptide from alfalfa and methods for controlling plant pathogenic fungi
    Patent number: 6316407
    Abstract: Antifungal polypeptides, isolated from Medicago plants, are shown to control fungal damage to plants. The polypeptides can be formulated into compositions useful in controlling undesired fungi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Jihong Liang, Dilip Maganlal Shah, Yonnie S. Wu, Cindy A. Rosenberger, Salim Hakimi
  • Soybean cultivar 9431836328642
    Patent number: 6313379
    Abstract: A novel soybean cultivar, designated 9431836328642, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 9431836328642, to the plants of soybean 9431836328642 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing the cultivar 9431836328642 with itself or another soybean variety. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar 9431836328642 with another soybean cultivar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Asgrow Seed Company, LLC
    Inventor: Craig K. Moots
  • Soybean cultivar 9431836328643
    Patent number: 6313380
    Abstract: A novel soybean cultivar, designated 9431836328643, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 9431836328643, to the plants of soybean 9431836328643 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing the cultivar 9431836328643 with itself or another soybean variety. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar 9431836328643 with another soybean cultivar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Asgrow Seed Company, LLC
    Inventor: Craig K. Moots
  • Inhibiting apoptosis in plants using a baculovirus p35 protease inhibitor gene
    Patent number: 6310273
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods of inhibiting apopotosis in plants in plants using a baculovirus p35 protease inhibitor gene. This method can impart improved pathogen resistance to pathogens that exploit apoptosis as a part of the infection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: David G. Gilchrist, James E. Lincoln, Craig Richael
  • Herbicide-tolerant plants and methods of controlling the growth of undesired vegetation
    Patent number: 6308458
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for controlling the growth of undesired vegetation comprising applying an effective amount of a protox-inhibiting herbicide to a population of transgenic plants or plant seed transformed with a DNA sequence coding for a modified protox enzyme that is tolerant to a protox-inhibiting herbicide or to the locus where a population of the transgenic plants or plant seeds is cultivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Novartis Finance Corporation
    Inventors: Sandra L. Volrath, Marie A. Johnson, Eric R. Ward, Peter B. Heifetz
  • Herbicide tolerant plants, plant tissue or plant cells having altered protoporphyrinogen oxidase activity
    Patent number: 6307129
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel eukaryotic DNA sequences coding for native protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) or modified forms of the enzyme which are herbicide tolerant. Plants having altered protox activity which confers tolerance to herbicides are also provided. These plants are engineered for resistance to protox inhibitors via mutation of the native protox gene to a resistant form or they are transformed with modified eukaryotic or prokaryotic protox coding sequences or wild type prokaryotic protox sequences which are herbicide tolerant. Plant genes encoding wild-type and altered protox, purified plant protox, methods of isolating protox from plants, and methods of using protox-encoding genes are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Syngenta Investment Corporation
    Inventors: Eric R. Ward, Sandra Volrath
  • Soybean cultivar 9323265446451
    Patent number: 6307130
    Abstract: A novel soybean cultivar, designated 9323265446451, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 9323265446451, to the plants of soybean 9323265446451 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing the cultivar 9323265446451 with itself or another soybean variety. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar 9323265446451 with another soybean cultivar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Asgrow Seed Company, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew D. Nickell
  • Methods for removing pollutants from contaminated soil materials with a fern plant
    Patent number: 6302942
    Abstract: The invention provides processes and materials for phytoremediating materials which has been contaminated with arsenic, phosphorous, or other metals. In a preferred embodiment, the subject invention provides fern plants, which accumulate arsenic from contaminated materials. The fern plants efficiently remove arsenic from the materials. The fern plants can be harvested and readily disposed of, or can be treated to recover arsenic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: University of Florida
    Inventors: Lena Q. Ma, Ken M. Komar, Elizabeth D. Kennelley
  • DNA encoding a transcription factor controlling phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway
    Patent number: 6303847
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated and purified DNA having a nucleotide sequence which comprises SEQ ID NO:1, and encodes a transcription factor controlling a phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway; a recombinant vector comprising the DNA; the recombinant vector, further comprising a promoter to which the DNA is operably fused; the recombinant vector, wherein the DNA is operably fused to the promoter in the sense or antisense direction; a plant cell into which the DNA has been introduced; a plant regenerated from the plant cell; and an isolated and purified DNA which encodes a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kawaoka, Hiroyasu Ebinuma
  • Plants having modified response to ethylene by transformation with an ETR nucleic acid
    Patent number: 6294716
    Abstract: The invention includes transformed plants having at least one cell transformed with a modified ETR nucleic acid. Such plants have a phenotype characterized by a decrease in the response of at least one transformed plant cell to ethylene as compared to a plant not containing the transformed plant cell. Tissue and/or temporal specificity for expression of the modified ETR nucleic acid is controlled by selecting appropriate expression regulation sequences to target the location and/or time of expression of the transformed nucleic acid. The plants are made by transforming at least one plant cell with an appropriate modified ETR nucleic acid, regenerating plants from one or more of the transformed plant cells and selecting at least one plant having the desired phenotype.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Elliott M. Meyerowitz, Caren Chang, Anthony B. Bleecker
  • Transgenic plants expressing mutant geminivirus AC1 or C1 genes
    Patent number: 6291743
    Abstract: The invention involves production of transgenic plants containing DNA encoding AC1/C1 wildtype and mutant sequences that negatively interfere in trans with geminiviral replication during infection. The transgenic plants produced by the invention are resistant to viral infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignees: Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Inc., Wisconsin Alymni Research Foundation, Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: John T. Stout, Hang T. Luu, Steven F. Hanson, Douglas P. Maxwell, Paul G. Ahlquist, Robert L. Gilbertson
  • Method of producing transformed cells of barley
    Patent number: 6291244
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing transformed cells of barley by suspending, in a suspension medium containing 200-1000 mg/l acetosyringone, a microorganism belonging to the genus Agrobacterium containing a foreign gene; and culturing, in a co-culture medium containing about 1000 mg/l acetosyringone, the microorganism belonging to the genus Agrobacterium and barley callus cells; separating the cultured barley cells from the co-culture medium; and placing the separated barley cells on a selective medium to select the transformed cells into which the foreign gene has been introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Sapporo Breweries Limited
    Inventors: Kazuhide Rikiishi, Kazuhiko Noda, Makoto Kihara
  • Methods of selecting plants, plant tissue or plant cells resistant to a protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor
    Patent number: 6288306
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel eukaryotic DNA sequences coding for native protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) or modified forms of the enzyme which are herbicide tolerant. Plants having altered protox activity which confers tolerance to herbicides and a method of selecting transformed plants are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Syngenta Investment Corporation
    Inventors: Eric R. Ward, Sandra Volrath
  • Methods of using viral replicase polynucleotides and polypeptides
    Patent number: 6284947
    Abstract: The invention provides novel methods of using viral replicase polypeptides and polynucleotides. Included are methods for increasing transformation frequencies, increasing crop yield, providing a positive growth advantage, modulating cell division, transiently modulating cell division, and for providing a means of positive selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Gordon-Kamm, Keith S. Lowe, Matthew A. Bailey, Carolyn A. Gregory, George J. Hoerster, Brian A. Larkins, Brian R. Dilkes, Ronald Burnett, Young Min Woo
  • Insect-resistant plants comprising a Bacillus thuringiensis gene
    Patent number: 6284949
    Abstract: A method for producing genetically transformed plants exhibiting toxicity to Coleopteran insects is disclosed. In another aspect, the present invention embraces chimeric plant genes, genetically transformed cells and differentiated plants which exhibit toxicity to Coleopteran insects. In yet another aspect, the present invention embraces bacterial cells and plant transformation vectors comprising a chimeric plant gene encoding a Coleopteran toxin protein of Bacillus thuringiensis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: David A. Fischhoff, Roy L. Fuchs, Paul B. Lavrik, Sylvia A. McPherson, Frederick J. Perlak
  • Genes and methods for control of nematodes in plants
    Patent number: 6284948
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated DNA sequences capable of conferring nematode resistance in plants. The isolated DNA sequences can be inserted into a DNA vector to form a transformation construct for the expression of the isolated DNA sequences in plants. The transformation construct can be introduced into plant cells. Plants expressing the isolated DNA sequences can be regenerated from the transformed cells. Methods for improving genetic traits or nematode resistance in plants are also provided, comprising transforming cells with the isolated DNA sequences and regenerating plants from the transformed cells expressing the isolated DNA sequences necessary for nematode resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: Holly J. Jessen, Terry EuClaire Meyer
  • Transgenic plants with divergent [ScaM4 or] SCaM5 gene to achieve multiple disease resistance
    Patent number: 6284952
    Abstract: The present invention provides transgenic plants and plant cells thereof which have been transformed with the soybean calmodulin isoform (SCaM5) gene to exhibit greatly enhanced resistance to a wide spectrum of plant pathogens. The present invention also provides the expression vector containing SCaM5 gene and to host cells into which the gene in the expression vector has been introduced to plant pathogens-resistant plants. Transgenic plants expressing a heterologous SCaM5 gene show increased resistance to fungi, bacteria and viruses which normally infect the plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Korea Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won Do Heo, Moo Je Cho, Pill-Soon Song, Chang Ho Chung
  • Methods of controlling the growth of undesired vegetation with herbicide tolerant plants or plant seeds having altered protoporphyrinogen oxidase activity
    Patent number: 6282837
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel eukaryotic DNA sequences coding for native protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) or modified forms of the enzyme which are herbicide tolerant. A method for controlling weeds using plants having altered protox activity which confers tolerance to herbicides is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Novartis Finance Corporation
    Inventors: Eric R. Ward, Sandra Volrath
  • Methods for removing pollutants from contaminated soil materials with a fern plant
    Patent number: 6280500
    Abstract: The subject invention provides materials and methods for remediating soil and/or water which has been contaminated with arsenic, phosphorous, or other metals. In a preferred embodiment, the subject invention provides fern plants which accumulate arsenic from contaminated soils. The fern plants efficiently remove arsenic from the soil. The fern plants can be harvested and readily disposed of, or can be treated to recover arsenic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: University of Florida
    Inventors: Lena Q. Ma, Ken M. Komar, Elizabeth D. Kennelley